Medicaid should be the single payer national medical coverage offered to all US citizens, and yes, the Fed should bump up aid in addiction response -- ALL addiction, especially and primarily by addressing the actual cause of addiction, which is POVERTY!

Matching monies to states who are trying to handle issues before they get bigger is a good thing, and should be encouraged. The sooner treatment for something like this starts, the sooner it costs the taxpayer less money.

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Argument opposed

While well-intended, this bill is more rigid than the administrative workarounds state Medicaid programs can use and may limit treatment for patients suffering from other forms of addiction.

First, a Republican wrote this, so I don’t trust it. Compassion, which is what we need in laws relating to addiction, isn’t their strong suit at the moment. Second, this bill would ultimately limit what states can do for addicted patients. Automatic matching grants do not seem appropriate. Dialogue and discussion are what we need to solve this.

Bill Data

What is House Bill H.R. 5797?

This bill — the IMD CARE Act — would allow state Medicaid programs to receive matching federal payments for services provided by institutions for mental disease (IMDs) to treat Medicaid-eligible adults between the ages of 21 and 64 suffering from opioid use disorder for up to 30 days per year. Under current law, a policy known as the “IMD exclusion” prohibits matching payments to state Medicaid programs for most services provided by IMDs except in limited circumstances. This change would apply for fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

The bill’s full title is the Individuals in Medicaid Deserve Care that is Appropriate and Responsible in its Execution Act.

Impact

Patients in IMDs; IMDs; state Medicaid programs.

Cost of House Bill H.R. 5797

$991.00 Million

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would increase direct spending by $991 million over the 2019-2028 period.

More Information

“Combatting America’s opioid epidemic means ensuring those battling addiction have ready access to quality treatment. Unfortunately, current law prevents some Medicaid recipients battling opioid addiction from receiving the treatment they need to reclaim their lives. Sadly, an inability to receive proper care can be fatal. Ending the opioid crisis means providing treatment options, including inpatient care, to those seeking help. My bill, combined with the oversight study legislation I cosponsored, will move us toward our shared goal of saving lives from the scourge of opioid addiction.”

House Democrats expressed reservations about repealing the IMD exclusion in this manner, with Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) saying this bill is “less flexible than the administrative options currently available to states”. He added that repealing the IMD exclusion solely for opioid use disorder “creates additional barriers and may further limit treatment options that require treatment for other substances.”

This legislation passed the House Energy and Commerce Committee on a voice vote and has the support of five cosponsors, all of whom are Republicans.

To amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to allow States to provide under Medicaid services for certain individuals with opioid use disorders in institutions for mental diseases.

Medicaid should be the single payer national medical coverage offered to all US citizens, and yes, the Fed should bump up aid in addiction response -- ALL addiction, especially and primarily by addressing the actual cause of addiction, which is POVERTY!

First, a Republican wrote this, so I don’t trust it. Compassion, which is what we need in laws relating to addiction, isn’t their strong suit at the moment. Second, this bill would ultimately limit what states can do for addicted patients. Automatic matching grants do not seem appropriate. Dialogue and discussion are what we need to solve this.

Matching monies to states who are trying to handle issues before they get bigger is a good thing, and should be encouraged. The sooner treatment for something like this starts, the sooner it costs the taxpayer less money.

This is a treatable, medical condition and should be taken care of as soon as diagnosed. Yes, matching funds from the Feds should be supplied in order to get our community members back on their feet and capable to handle their lives with as little stress as possible on the rest of their family members.

Medicaid is almost bankrupt. All federal dollars come from the states, so a state funded only system has more local control of how a program operates. Many of the welfare recipients use the system to buy these drugs, so cutting off that money supply would help as well. With such a low success rate, going cold turkey, with supervision, may be the best solution.

The federal government should provide matching funds for services provided by IMDs in general. It shouldn’t be just for opioid abuse, but for all kinds of substance abuse disorders. This kind of legislation will probably create an incentive for patients to claim that they are suffering from opioid abuse when it’s really another form of substance abuse.